Low-Energy Nuclear Reaction-based technologies, otherwise known as cold-fusion technologies, continue to hold promise as the next big break-through to help our globe get away from dependency on fossil fuels. The major issue is that the two companies who claim to have produced working LENR devices - Leonardo Corporation and Defkalion - will not allow outside scientists to validate their products for fear of having the technology stolen from them. Considering what’s at stake, who can blame them?
Coming of Cavitation
Other technologies are starting to emerge and could steal the spotlight. One such example is recent leaps in the use of cavitation to produce energy. Cavitation is the phenomenon of pockets, or bubbles, being created in a fluid and then immediately imploding. Cavitation can cause extreme amounts of wear and tear on devices like propellers that are submerged in liquid. These bubbles that are formed implode which cause extra vibration and heat, to name a few things that are normally undesirable.
Yet one company, NanoSpire, Inc., has come up with a technique for taking advantage of cavitation to produce excess heat. In a recent experiment, the NanoSpire reactor heated water up to 32 degrees. The device produced 3.4 times as much energy than was used to heat the water. The process was repeated 12 times with identical results.
Applications of Cavitation
Excess heat of 32 degrees may not sound all that much, but the implication for energy savings are astounding. In areas that require significant heating of buildings, this technology could literally eliminate the need for natural gas or fossil fuels for temperature control.
Another interesting side effect of cavitation, as performed by NanoSpire, is transmutation. You may have heard this term in conjunction with the magic of turning cheap metals into gold. Both LENR and cavitation technologies have as a by-product the transmutation of one element into another. In fact, this is where the heat they produce is derived.
One of the transmutation effects in cavitation is the production of diamond-like surfaces and more than 100 other elements like lithium and californium. This could mean further benefits beyond just energy production.
Further, studies have not been conducted at this time to see what happens when you chain these devices together. Eventually the technology could produce steam and, therefore, electricity through turbines. Here lies the ultimate sense of excitement around cavitation.
Where Did Cavitation Come From?
The phenomenon of cavitation is well documented and has been the bane of engineers the world over’s existence. Until now, mentioning the term in the company of scientist would get you glares and frustrated stares simply because it’s quite literally a source of major friction.
Some of the industry uses for cavitation in the last few decades include:
- Medical – breaking down of kidney stones
- Chemical engineering – mixing up and breaking down particles in fluids
- Cleaning – using the process to break up contaminants
Now, maybe we can add fusion to the list of practical applications for cavitation.
